To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
Prepared By: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
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Glen Poole, Operations Manager, Open Spaces
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presenter
Presenter: Glen Poole, Operations Manager, Open Spaces
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Subject:
title
1:00 PM *Highline Canal Trail, Natural Resource Management Plan Funding
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Arapahoe County and the Open Spaces Department anticipate acquiring portions of the High Line Canal property in June 2024 from Denver Water. Open Space Operations, the High Line Canal Conservancy (Conservancy), and a small team of Canal Collaborative members have selected Biohabitats and Dig Studio to facilitate and develop a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRM Plan) for the High Line Canal. The NRM Plan will serve to guide future management and stewardship of the entire property. The Open Spaces Department is requesting approval to allocate $162,000 of joint project funds to support the High Line Canal NRM Plan. The total cost for the NRM Plan is expected to be $355,000, Arapahoe County's share of $162,000 represents 45% of the total cost.
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Background and Discussion: Denver Water has reduced its use of the Canal for irrigation water delivery to its historic customers. The Canal is a landscape in transition, with the corridor's riparian like ecosystem now relying on stormwater inputs to sustain vegetation and trees. Arapahoe County will be taking ownership of 47 miles of the 71-mile-long Canal (66% of the total trail length). Denver Water has agreed to support a transition process after the County acquires the property, with the transition period ending at the close of 2026. Denver Water will continue to fulfill its existing maintenance responsibilities during this transition period and will support County staff in learning Denver Water management processes and protocols for the Canal. During this transition period, Denver Water and the Conservancy...
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